Does a negative hepatitis B DNA test mean there is no virus?

Hepatitis B DNA is the genetic material of the hepatitis B virus, and testing for hepatitis B DNA can determine whether the virus is present. If the hepatitis B DNA test result is negative, it indicates that the level of the virus in the blood is very low or has been cleared, but it does not completely rule out the presence of the hepatitis B virus.

The hepatitis B virus may exist in the liver, lymphatic tissues, bone marrow, and other sites, and the hepatitis B DNA in the blood represents only a portion of the total viral load. Therefore, to accurately determine whether an individual has a hepatitis B infection, multiple testing markers should be considered together, such as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), and hepatitis B e-antibody (anti-HBe). If all these markers are negative, it may be concluded that the virus has been cleared; however, regular monitoring is still necessary to ensure the virus does not reappear. If any of these markers are positive, further evaluation and treatment are required.

If a diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection has been confirmed, active treatment—including antiviral therapy and liver-protective treatments—should be pursued to alleviate symptoms, control disease progression, and prevent complications.